Foreword
One word that strikes unimaginable terror in a young bride’s heart is
‘mother-in-law’. It is not surprising, as a lady who is utmost loving and
compassionate as a mother, often becomes a despicable ogre as soon as she
becomes a mother-in-law!
The reasons could be several, such as a difference in opinions,
point-of-views, temperaments and attitudes; ego, one-upmanship, bias,
prejudice, greed, jealousy and hatred.
Often, life after marriage becomes a continuous tussle between the
daughter-in-law and mother-in-law, with the husband/son sandwiched helplessly
between the two warring ladies. Each lady tries to exert her control over the
man and the household; and establish her supremacy.
A lady, who has been tortured by her mother-in-law as a newly-wed bride,
viciously and gleefully takes over the onerous mantle effortlessly, when she becomes a mother-in-law!
No wonder then that many a young girl these days has a strict (often
unspoken) rule when she decides to marry - ‘No mother-in-law, please!’
Obviously, she wants to live peacefully and happily with her husband, without
the baggage of a nagging mother-in-law!
But there are always exceptions to
the rule!